Valve mechanism for fountain toothbrushes



A' LAWSON .VALVE MECHANISM OR'FOUNTAIN TOOTl-lBRUSl-IESA Filed 061;. 29. 1947 fra INVENTOR. rmeaz M3027 ze 3o ATTIJ RN EYB Patented Aug. 19, 1952 Vulvlu-'l'lzo STATE .VALVE g n AnnafLawson, D-etroit,M-irch.' l Application octet 29, 1947,*seria'1N0g782,760

This invention relates to a toothbrush and more particularly to a fountain toothbrush which is simple in construction and eicient in operation.

An object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush of this character that has a unique.

valve construction, for the dispensing of the contents of a paste tube carried by the handle of the toothbrush. y

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan elevational view of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan elevational view of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the pressure and valve actuating plate and Figure 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference numeral I designates a toothbrush constructed in accordance with the invention.

The brush I0 comprises a hollow head Il and a hollow handle I2 extending rearwardly from the head and formed integrally therewith.

The head II, on its undersurface, covers the two parallel rows of related spaced bristle tufts I3 which are secured in sockets I 4 in any conventional manner. Extending longitudinally of the head II are two parallel rows of apertures I which are so spaced that they are positioned inwardly of the outermost tufts and intermediate of the rows of tufts, and each individual tuft.

The rear end of the handle I2 is open and threads I6 are provided at the extreme endof the handle to receive the screw cap I 1 thereon.

The cap I1 has a central socket I.1, in which is lmounted the open rear end of the flexible collapsible tube I9 which, at the forward end, has a portion which extends inwardly of the head II. The portion 20 is provided with apertures 2| which, when the portion is in proper position, aline themselves with the apertures I5 in the head I I.

`The head II is substantially rectangular in` y1k Claim.- (01.42224212) shape, so that once the portion 2l] is in place, it will not be displaced to eliminate alinement of the apertures.

Inwardly of the portion 20, at the rear end thereof, there is provided the opposed slotted bosses 2I and 22 respectively, in which is slidvably mounted the valve 23. The valve 23 is provided with a port 24 which will register with the portion 20 to permit toothpaste or the like that is placed in the tube I9 to pass from the tube into the portion 20 to dispense the contents through the apertures I5 and 2l, as will be later described.

'I'he handle I2 might be termed a cigar shaped handle, and a plate 25, conforming to the shape of the handle, is placed in the handle in contact with the tube I9. The forward end of the plate 25 has a tongue 26 which is received in the opening in the valve 23 above the port 24. The plate .25 also has centrally thereof, an elongated projection 21 which extends outwardly of the handle I2 through the opening 28 in the handle. If the projection 21 is pressed inwardly, with the fingers, the tongue 26 on the plate will move the valve 23 outwardly of the handle through the slot 29 in the handle, and the slot 3U in the tube I 9. Movement of the valve 23 will aline the port 24 with the portion 20 so that the contents of the tube I9 can be dispensed through the apertures I5 and 2 I.

In use, the cap I1 is removed to ll the tube I9 with toothpowder or toothpaste, and the cap is replaced. Downward pressure on the projection 21 will open the valve, and force the contents of the tube through the apertures to permit the paste to mingle with the tufts for cleaning the teeth in the conventional manner. I

construction of the device, and it is to be understood that changes in the minor details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to, provided theyfall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

3 A valve structure forja fountain toothbrush, comprising a body formed with a hollow head and a hollow handle extending rearwardly of the head, apertures formed in said head, a iiexible Ycollapsible Ytube in said body having arportion conforming in shape to the handle anda portion conforming in shape to' the head, said` head conforming portion having apertures Atherein adapted'v to "register" with the aperturesV inYA the head, af plate in said'handle in contact with said tube, a projection on the plate extending outsaid tube rearwardly of said head conformingv Y portion, a valve slidably mounted in the slotted il bosses in'said tube rearwardly of saidhead conforming portion and formed with an opening therein, a tongue cn said plate insertedrinV the opening in said valve, and said valve having a conforming portionwhen said projection is depressed causing the Valve to be moved `by the tongue to align the port with the handle portion and the head portion to permit toothpaste placed in said tube to be dispensed into the head portion and thence outwardly of said apertures. y

ANNA LAWSON.

A s A "REFERENCES,"CITED.' i; The following'referencesar o'f'record in the le of this patent: Wardly of the handle, opposed slotted bosses 1n i port therein adapted to register with said head Number Y UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Y Date 136,289 Wale Feb. 25, 1873 Y 1,065,266 La Near June 1'7, 1913 1,610,831 Wallace Dec. 14, 1926" 2,357,544 France Sept. 5, 194y 2,527,741

Lamonde Oct. 31, 195 

